Sunday, 25 March 2012

Fans were left disappointed at Anfield when Liverpool lost 2-1 against Wigan Athletic.

It was an even further blow for the Reds as it was Wigan’s second league win in 14 games and first ever at Anfield.

The Lactics seemed a bit wary at first, but Victor Moses broke through to try his luck, but defender Martin Skrtel was able to block the early shot.

Unfortunately for Moses, he would see Skrtel’s boot when the Slovakian gave a high kick to the face in an effort to block him again. Moses had to leave the field after some treatment, but it earned Wigan a penalty at the half hour mark, which Shaun Maloney took and put past Pepe Reina for his first goal in a Wigan shirt.

Lactic keeper Ali Al Habsi became busy after that. Liverpool responded passionately but the keeper kept denying them a goal, including a curl by Luis Suarez and a shot by Steven Gerrard.

Manager Kenny Dalglish made an early change at halftime, replacing Jordan Henderson with striker Andy Carroll.

Two minutes into the second half, the Reds levelled up when Gerrard neatly passed the ball to Suarez to put it past Al Habsi.

The Uruguayan seemingly scored another goal only a few moments later. Skrtel’s header stumbled near the goal, and Suarez fumbled it into the net, but the goal was disallowed when the referee ruled it bounced off his arm.

Wigan responded with another goal to put them in the lead. James McCarthy’s shot was blocked by Jamie Carragher, but the ball was picked up by Gary Caldwell, and he then put it past a shocked Reina.

Liverpool fought back but in the end were defeated, the fifth time in six league games, and it sees the Reds still in seventh on the Barclay’s Premier League table.

Wednesday, 14 March 2012

The call for justice for the 96 fans who lost their lives at Hillsborough has been going on for 23 years, but a few fans are now raising awareness in a different way.
Dom Williams and his five teammates are hoping to do just that by running 76 miles from Hillsborough to Anfield in only three days.

Although a new runner by some standards, Williams is fully dedicating himself for the cause. This includes some serious training all in the name of justice.

"I started running last July and have not really stopped since," he said. "I do a lot of very hilly miles, this varies between 25 and 55 miles a week depending on how the body is feeling."

Recently, Liverpool Football Club gave their backing to the team's journey and announced that the run could be ended on the pitch at Anfield. Since then, Sheffield Wednesday have now also showed the same gesture, saying the six runners could start their trek right inside Hillsborough as well.

Not only have the two clubs shown their backing, but the support has also been pouring in from the community as well. Words of encouragemnt and donations to the fundraiser have been coming in from football fans worldwide. Williams expressed just how important it has been in the build-up.

He said: "Without the support, we could not go ahead. It just means we, as a team, have a huge responsibility to do ourselves proud and make this run as successful as it can possibly be.

"It really needs to be successful on two counts, firstly we want to raise a huge amount of money so when we present the cheques on the pitch at Anfield on either the 14th April or the 22nd April it is not embarrassing. Secondly that we raise public awareness not just in Liverpool but right around the country."

Sunday, 4 March 2012

Liverpool saw their unbeaten at home run ended with a defeat to Arsenal.

The Reds nearly took the lead after 19 minutes when a penalty was given to the home side after a challenge from Arsenal’s keeper Wojciech Szczesny on Dirk Kuyt.

The Dutchman, coming off from a high for his part in last week’s Carling Cup final, failed to get past Szczensy when he took the penalty.

But soon after, Liverpool would get on the scoresheet with the help of Arsenal. Jordan Henderson took a corner, but the Gunners’ Laurent Koscielny in an attempt to head the ball away ended up heading it into his own net, past a stunned Szczcesny.

Arsenal soon made up for the folly of an own goal with a goal by Robin Van Persie. A cross from Barcary Sagna saw the star Dutchman beat the defenders in red to put the ball past Pepe Reina and level the scoring.

The second half had a slow start since Mikel Arteta collided with Henderson. Arteta suffered a concussion and jaw injury from it.

Kuyt created a cross that looked for sure to become a goal by Martin Kelly but the defender wasted the shot by seemingly misjudging the timing of the cross.

In the eight minutes of stoppage time, Van Persie scored his 30th goal of the season and the game winner. Alex Song’s ball to Van Persie was perfect to see the Gunners walk away from Anfield victorious.

Although Liverpool were arguably the better side in the afternoon, they could not convert any of the chances to goals, giving Arsenal all three points and leaving the Reds even farther from the desired top four position.

Friday, 2 March 2012

Kenny Dalglish celebrated with the rest of the Reds when Liverpool on their first trophy during his second stint as manager at Wembley.

In typical Liverpool final fashion, the match against Cardiff City proved to be very dramatic, keeping everyone on their toes until the very last seconds.

Liverpool were lively from the start and defender Glen Johnson nearly opened the scoring just two minutes in, but his effort hit just inside the crossbar.

It was the Blue Birds that surprisingly took the lead in the 19th minute with a shot by Joe Mason that went through keeper Pepe Reina’s legs. They would stay in the lead at halftime.

Defender Martin Skrtel put Liverpool’s mind at ease at the 60 minute mark. Stewart Downing’s corner kick went to Andy Carroll who headed the ball to Suarez. The Uruguayan struck the post but the ball ended up at Skrtel who then levelled the scoreboard.

The Reds did everything they could to prevent extra time at Wembley, but even with a series of corners to take advantage of the fulltime whistle blew at 1-1.

It was Dirk Kuyt, who came on in extra time to replace Andy Carroll, who lifted the spirits again two minutes after coming on the pitch. The Dutchman slid near the goal in a fruitful attempt to take the lead. The Travelling Kop made their voices heard in appreciation.

Liverpool may have thought a win was in the cards after nearly 120 minutes of play, but Cardiff fought long and hard the whole time not to go out like that. They equalised in the final moments of extra time. Ben Turner took advantage of a scramble from a corner and put the ball through Reina’s legs, leaving the game to be decided by penalties.

The Captain Steven Gerrard was up first. Unfortunately his shot was blocked by Cardiff keeper Tom Heaton. It was quickly forgotten when Cardiff’s Kenny Miller also missed.

Charlie Adam has no chance when his effort went clear over the bar. Don Cowie scored his penalty, leaving the Reds in an intense moment. But when Gestede missed after Kuyt scored, there was still no telling who would win.

Stewart Downing and Glen Johnson both scored their penalties, while the Blue Bird’s Peter Whittingham did the same. It was all down to Anthony Gerrard, Steven Gerrard’s cousin to keep the hope alive for the Welsh side.

However, Anthony Gerrard’s effort went wide, sending the players and fans into a frenzy after winning the League Cup for the eighth time.

Dalglish spoke of his respect for his rivals, saying “We're delighted to have won a trophy. It was a difficult game for us and I think Cardiff represented their football club extremely well. They tried everything.

"We've played well, come through some really hard games, and today was a really hard game because they were tough opponents. Malky (Mackay) can be proud of the job he's done there, and the people of Cardiff can be proud of the efforts they've put in.”

He also spoke of the relief of winning a trophy after a six year drought.

"Our people are absolutely delighted with their first trophy in six years, so it's been a very good day for us. We'll just continue to work hard and see where it takes us."

Dirk Kuyt said it was keeping the faith that led the Reds to the trophy.

"We never stopped believing and that is why we have won the trophy," he said.

"Even when Steven missed his penalty I said to him we would still get back into it as there were a number of penalties to be taken.

"The most important thing in football is belief and we showed today we have that in the squad. It's a great day for us."